Hatch says Romney doesn't need to talk Mormonism in speech

By Maggie Haberman

08/27/12 08:31 PM EDT

Our colleague Manu Raju reports tonight on thoughts about his fellow Mormon Mitt Romney's plans to discuss his religion in his nomination speech:

Hatch, one of the most prominent Mormon Republicans in the country, thinks Romney shouldn’t spend any time talking about his religion when he reintroduces himself to the American public in his nomination acceptance speech Thursday night.

“I don’t think there’s a downside [of talking about his religion], but I don’t think that’s what the American people want,” the Utah senator told POLITICO on Monday.

“I think people want to hear – what’s he going to do? Is he going to turn this mess around? Is he going to work at solving these economic problems that we know are in the doldrums right now and aren’t likely to be solved by President Obama, nice guy though he may be. The American people want to know: What are you go to do for us?”